Final Presentations
Preparing for the final presentations

Presentation Hints and tips - General

  • Tell a Story: Each presentation needs to be self-contained, in other words, you need to make sure it tells a story with a beginning a middle and an end.

  • Here’s how things are broken today: It’s often very good to start with a compelling problem statement, e.g. here’s how terrible things are right now…

  • Make clear when you are done.: Have a clear concluding slide, maybe with a summary and ideas for further enhancements. Say “Thank you. And are there any other questions?” Keep to the time limit. Keep questions to the end. Work on the handoffs between the speakers to make them as smooth as possible.

  • Slides: Don’t have too many words on the slides. Don’t have just words, use whitespace and some illustrations. Don’t read the slides. Don’t have too many slides. Remember that your audience is seeing this for the first time!

  • Proofpoints: Try to provide evidence whenever you can, with data from your own work or from credible online or offline sources.

  • Empathize: Remember this is the first time people see this. You need to explain and walk through Any diagrams, paper prototypes, demos and other illustrations need to be presented and explained so that the audience can understand and be engaged.

  • Practice/Rehearse: Please practice your part of the presentation at least a couple of times with your team. Be familiar with the material so you don’t umm and mumm as if you are seeing the material for the first time. Watch your pacing. Speak clearly and in complete sentences. It’s not needed that everyone speak, in fact if someone is uncomfortable speaking, has a very quiet voice, or whatever, it’s ok if they maybe work the demo or be there to answer questions. But whatever you decide, you need to practice!

  • Performance: A presentation is a kind of performance. Watch your body language! Are you energetic, engaged? If you don’t care, your listener will not either! Keep in mind that no one has seen this presentation before, and at least one person in the audience has never heard of your project.

  • Logistics: Make sure your equipment works. Bring any connectors or other gadgets you will need.

For Inspiration

Showcase Day Presentations

  • The showcase will be held in a slightly larger classroom (not yet assigned)
  • The audience will be your classmates and anyone else you want to invite
  • You should wear “business casual”, no ties or dresses required.
  • Whatever you feel comfortable with.
  • There will be a panel of Judges to listen and comment on the presentations
  • I will determine the order at the last minute
  • The Judges will give their feedback and rank the products
  • But, your grade will be based on much more than that.
  • Given the time you should probably not have more than 10 slides
  • Below are a long list of possible topics to give you inspiration.
  • You can’t use them all! Really! Don’t try. It’s just to give you ideas.
Idas for slides (in alphabetical order)
  • Customer story or scenario
  • Data collected
  • Demo of your product or service, including a scenario or story
  • Elevator pitch?
  • How does our product or service make the pain go away?
  • Hypotheses?
  • If we had more time?
  • Job the product is doing for the customer? How did the customer do it before? How will they do it now?
  • Market segment, is it really a segment? Do people here talk to each other? Do they have similar requirements? Can I reach them the same way?
  • Mockups and/or prototypes
  • MVPs tried? Especially good if
  • One or two sided market? If two sided,how do you expect to reach both of them? In what order?
  • Pivots undertaken. This is interesting especially if it demonstrates that you were disciplined in following where the research led you and didn’t stick to a plan that didn’t work.
  • Problem being solved, pain being relieved? In what way is it crucial for the customer? How do we know?
  • What is the ONE THING? Demonstrate that you chose one specific problem to solve and really solved it. Show focus.
  • What is the product or service? You would be surprised how often it happens that at the end of the presentation the audience looks at each other and say: “I don’t understand what the product is!” Keep it simple and clear.
  • Who is on the team? Photos? Names? Email Addresses?